CHARITY TRIPS The trek involves a climb to the summit of a volcanic crater, a hike to the mouth of the Hooker glacier and a walk through the forests of the Southern Alps.
The area was used extensively for location shooting in New Zealand director Peter Jackson's trilogy of Lord of the Rings films, which won a trio of Oscars.
Trekkers will also have a scenic drive through Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's highest peak.
Up to 30 supporters will take part in the 90km trek over six days, helping to raise money for the charity, which was set up in 1983 by families affected by eye disease.
To book a place, e-mail info@fightingblindness or text NZ plus your name and address to 087-9060219.
• 10 Irish people are in training to climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, to raise €70,000 for Oxfam. The team has been preparing for the climb for the past six months.
Oxfam says it will be a unique opportunity for people to challenge themselves and to achieve two goals at the same time: to climb the world's tallest free-standing mountain and to raise funds to help some of its poorest people to secure their futures.
Updates on the expedition will be available at www.oxfamireland.org.